The everyday life of our brains: Why we do what we do and think what we think

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After two brain hemorrhages, several bouts of being tortured by depression, and many years of pastoring, parenting, and partnering, I want to know, “Why I do the things I do?” What is going on inside our brains, when someone won’t let us merge on the beltway? Why is it so hard to ask someone to stop shouting into their cell phone in a restaurant? Why does it feel so bad to be criticized? Why do I burst into tears when someone suggests women shouldn’t be ordained, and why do I turn into mama bear when someone threatens my kids? And, importantly, is there anything I can do about it when I don’t like how my brain reacts to unpleasant events?

According to the research coming out of a variety of fields studying the brain, there is a lot we can do. But it also comforts me to understand what the heck is going on inside that 3 pound mass of tofu I carry around in my head. So if you want to know why YOU do the things you do, or your partner, kids, friends, or strangers on the street, check out this blog on occasion. I’ll share what I’ve discovered. Along the way, I’ll fill you in on practices that can help. And let me know if you have a question – I’ll do some digging to see what I can come up with.

Thank you so much for sharing your journey. “Why do I do the things I do?” That’s a big question I can identify with, that I think most people will ask at some point in their life. And when they do, it’s got potential to radically change the course and meaning of one’s life for good. I, too, had the opportunity to ask that during my last battle with depression and to cut the long story short, I became convinced that to do anything apart from serving and loving God is ultimately futile. I look forward to learning more from your life experiences and insights! 🙂

Pastor Amy, it seems a million years since you & I have communicated in any way: I think the last time was, perhaps, at the East Columbia library–or the last time the choir did “House of the Rising Son” (as I put it). So I didn’t know about the hemorrhages, etc. Let it be known that you are frequently, if not always, in my prayers–for various reasons, too many to go into here. As far as I’m concerned, you are one of the proofs why women SHOULD be ordained. As I recall, weren’t there a few of us at The First Pentecost, not to mention Magdalene being the first person to encounter the Risen Christ!?!?! She was/is righteously called The Apostle to the Apostles. Every time someone hassles you about this, turn ’em over to me. Besides being a temperamental witch, at about 300 lbs, the threat alone of violence should be enough!!!